Heartlands Baby Sanctuary is the proud beneficiary of the ticket proceeds from the 2023 YX23 Festival, thanks to a generous donation from Nedbank.
The valued donation underscores Nedbank’s commitment to fostering positive change and supporting the growth and well-being of South Africa’s youth.
The YX23 Festival served as a platform to celebrate the winners in the 2023 YouthX Awards, which continue to offer mentorship, resources and opportunities for young South Africans to unlock their potential. The festival goes beyond the traditional boundaries of an awards ceremony. The event, which featured inspiring speakers and electric performances, was dedicated to empowering and celebrating the innovative spirit and creativity of local youths.
As part of the YX23 purpose-led narrative, Nedbank is donating all ticket proceeds from the festival to Heartlands Baby Sanctuary, a charity chosen by YouthX Awards winner Wihan Joubert. Heartlands Baby Sanctuary provides holistic care for abandoned, abused and neglected children, offering them a temporary safe haven and the support they need to thrive.
“Being given the opportunity to donate the proceeds was deeply personal for me,” said Joubert, “it truly makes an impact on young children, giving them a chance at life. When building a business it’s important to make an impact on the people around you, especially in a country like South Africa. I believe it’s crucial for entrepreneurs to adopt a mindset that is focused on how we can continuously make a positive impact on those around us and contribute to making South Africa a better place. I’m honoured to be part of an initiative that empowers both our youth and our communities to create meaningful change.”
Khensani Nobanda, Group Executive of Marketing and Corporate Affairs at Nedbank, expressed their elation to partner with the Somerset West facility such a meaningful way.
“YouthX is about more than just celebrating achievements; it’s about creating a real, lasting impact in our communities. By supporting Heartlands Baby Sanctuary we are not only helping vulnerable children, but also empowering our youth to lead with purpose and compassion.”
Extending Heartlands’ gratitude to all role-players who enabled the generous donation, Nikki Bower, Head of Sustainability, Marketing and Events at the sanctuary, said: “This support will feed directly into our Adopt-a-Cot campaign, which goes a long way to ensuring we can continue to provide care and a safe environment for the children we serve. It’s heartening to see young leaders such as Wihan Joubert driving such impactful initiatives.”
Nedbank remains committed to being a catalyst for change, empowering South Africa’s youth and supporting organisations make a difference in the community. The leader in youth empowerment and community development encourages everyone to get involved, whether by attending the YX24 Festival on Saturday 12 October or supporting Heartlands Baby Sanctuary.
